All Your Entreprenista 100 Questions, Answered

This year’s Entreprenista 100 Awards season is underway and we’ve already received so many incredible submissions from women founders looking to be recognized on this year’s 100 list of outstanding business owners.

We also receive lots of excellent questions throughout the award season, so we thought we’d take a moment to round-up some of the most frequently asked questions and give you the answers you need—all in one place!

(If after reading this article, you still have questions or need help, please contact us at awards@entreprenista.com.)

Why should I apply?

You've worked tirelessly to achieve entrepreneurial success, and we want to celebrate your accomplishments! Here’s what you’ll gain by winning an Entreprenista 100 Award:

• Boost Brand Visibility – Enjoy national exposure with recognition on Entreprenista.com, social media, and through our extensive network of members and partners.
• Highlight Your Authority – Strengthen your position as a leader in your industry, attracting attention from new and existing clients or customers.
• Gain Instant Credibility – Leverage your award winning status to enhance your business’s credibility across all of your own marketing channels.

What are the eligibility requirements?

The Entreprenista 100 is open to for profit and non profit business owners based in the United States and Canada* who are 18 or older with at least 1 woman founder. To qualify, your business must have a woman founder or at least one active woman co-founder. Each company may submit only one entry, but if there are two or more founders, you can indicate this on the application. Full terms and conditions can be found here.

*NOTE: Residents of Quebec, Canada are ineligible to apply.

‍When is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is 11:59 PM EST on Wednesday, March 12th, 2025

How much is the application fee?

The application fee for active members of the Entreprenista League is $89.00

The application fee for non-members is $149.00

*** All application fees are non-refundable. ***

Do I need to be an Entreprenista League member to apply?

The Entreprenista 100 Awards are open to all women business owners. You do not have to be a member of the Entreprenista League to apply or to win.

Why are my credentials not working on the awards portal?

If you are a member and you’re trying to login to our awards platform to submit your entry, please note that you first need to make an account on the platform first. The credentials you use for the community platform (Circle) will not automatically work on the awards portal as they are separate platforms. Please click here to quickly register on our awards platform and then you should be redirected to begin your application. Please be sure to use the same email address that you use to sign into Circle when creating your new account on the awards platform.

What is the award selection process?

All applications will be reviewed at the close of the application window. The Entreprenista team and panel of judges will review the applications, taking into account business excellence and impact.  Entreprenista 100 Judges also assist in the selection of the top award honors. 

The selection committee will be evaluating an array of factors that make a business excellent, including but not limited to: fiscal growth and stability, brand professionalism and presence, audience reach and growth, impact on customer base and community, level of innovation, compellingness of personal story, and more. We look at the whole picture, not just one of these factors in a silo.

‍Are the questions about financial data required?

We want to assure you and your shareholders that all financial data is kept strictly confidential and we do not publish it anywhere. Furthermore, we understand that financial growth is only one of many factors to success. However, we do still require that the financial figures be shared so that every applicant is assessed by the same criteria. Worth noting, there is a freeform text question about growth where you can elaborate further on your data and/or provide any needed context that you feel the committee should know.

Are there any waivers or promo codes that I can use on my application fee?

No, there are no available waivers or promo codes for applications this year.

Why is there an application fee?

The number one goal of The Entreprenista 100 Awards is to provide a platform for highlighting and celebrating the outstanding accomplishments of women business owners. There are numerous resources that go into the execution of a high caliber awards program, which necessitates the establishment of a small application fee.

The application fee goes directly back into the program to help cover the costs associated with the review, selection, and promotion of the winners, essential technology, and needed assets to ensure the program’s widespread visibility and impact, and more. Additionally, the application fee helps to safeguard the program against fraudulent, spam, and duplicate submissions.

We have taken measures to keep the application fees as low as possible in order to make The Entreprenista 100 Awards accessible to as many women founders as we can, while still being able to run the program effectively.

Outside of The Entreprenista 100 Awards, The Entreprenista League regularly shares complimentary tips, resources, and opportunities for exposure and visibility through our public channels, such as the resources hub on our website, our Instagram account and free, weekly newsletter, “The Entreprenista Agenda”.

How many times can I nominate my business?

Only one application per business will be accepted (i.e. co-founders cannot submit multiple entries for the same business. If you have multiple co-founders, please include them all on one application).

If I applied or won previously, can I apply / win again?

Yes, if you have submitted your business for the Entreprenista 100 Awards in the past, you can submit again. If you have won in the past, you are permitted to submit again—afterall, a lot of recognition-worthy work can happen in a year!

When will the winners be announced?

The winners of the Entreprenista 100 Awards will be announced in early May 2025.

Will there be a physical award ceremony?

There will not be a physical award ceremony, but there will be a virtual long-form ceremony to recognize and honor the winners. The date of this event will be shared soon! 

What else will I receive if I win?

As an Entreprenista 100 winner, you'll gain extensive visibility across all of Entreprenista Media’s platforms. This includes a dedicated feature on Entreprenista.com, spotlight posts on our social channels, the potential for additional press opportunities and inclusion in our email newsletters. In addition, if you are a member of the Entreprenista League you will also be recognized as an award winning business with a E100 Winner badge in the community platform of over 2000+ business owners, and access to the private winners room. 

You’ll receive an official “Entreprenista 100” winner’s badge to showcase on your platforms and an exclusive invitation to our virtual awards ceremony, where we’ll celebrate your achievements. 

You’ll also receive exclusive invitations to special networking and business-boosting events specifically for current and past winners of the Entreprenista 100 Awards.

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